She was the first Royal Navy warship to bear this name, after the Haydon hunt in Northumberland.

[citation needed] On commissioning Haydon was allocated to the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, serving as an escort for Atlantic Convoys.

In 1943 she transferred to the Mediterranean and was part of the Naval force in support of the allied landings in Sicily.

The ship was laid-up in the Reserve Fleet Division at Hartlepool until approval was given for her to be placed on the Disposal List in March 1958.

Sold to BISCO on 17 May that year for demolition Clayton & Davie the ship arrived at Dunston-on-Tyne in tow on 18 May 1958.